MBB: NESCAC

[AmherstStudent05]

However, I do think Amherst does deserve a little more credit for its scheduling in recent years.  Maybe it is just my personal opinion, but I think one of the most important parts of a D III schedule is playing top competition in your own region.  While I haven't run the numbers, I have to think that over the past 5 years Amherst has as many or more wins against regionally ranked opponents in the northeast than anyone else.  We certainly have to be up there.  Year in and year out we seem to finish the season having played a good cross section of the top teams in our region.  I think Coach Hixon does deserve a lot of credit for that.  Anyway, we will see what this year brings but I don't think anyone could fairly say that Amherst generally dodges the top northeastern teams. 

Well, the data is a little bit scewed. When there are 13 some odd teams regionally ranked in the Northeast based on the number of teams in the region to begin with... playing teams that end up being regionally ranked isn't as hard as it looks. The fact the NESCAC is usually good for four teams ranked, at least, plus you sprinkle in other conference leaders, the chances of playing a lot of regionally ranked teams is pretty easy. Take that same scheduling mentality to another region - almost any other region - and you wouldn't have the same number of regionally ranked opponents.

I am not sure skewed data should have much to do with this.  To reiterate, my observations about Amherst's schedule were expressly limited to the Northeast region.  I was not comparing Amherst to any teams outside of the Northeast.  Similarly, my point about Amherst was not simply that they have racked up a few wins against regionally ranked opponents over the years -- rather, my point was that Amherst, in my estimation, has, over the past 5 years, as many or about as many wins against northeast regionally ranked opponents as anyone else.  So even if there was a relatively low bar -- which I am happy to concede for the argument -- my point is that Amherst has been clearing by more than just about everyone else. 

Now, as I have freely admitted, I haven't run the numbers and could be wrong about where Amherst stacks up.  However, I think my claim was pretty much an apples to apples one.  Namely, relative to its regional peers, Amherst typically gets well above average results against regionally ranked opponents. 

If this claim is indeed true, then I think Amherst deserves credit for more than respectable scheduling (even as I must fairly acknowledge that we never have a true murderer's row because historically we clearly (1) schedule a fair amount of weak competition early in the season, and (2) do not typically play powerhouses from other regions.) 

[jumpshot]

Southern Vermont shows tonight why there is no Division IV, down by 24 to Midd at the half. SV's run and gun doesn't work when you shoot poorly, don't rebound or protect the basket, have a unfortunate height disadvantage, etc. Probably does not help to have lost your captain and all-time assist leader for the season with a knee injury. Positive:Got to admire SV's giving opportunity to young men a long way from home.

Midd shows some bright elements, primarily St. Amour's 5 for 8 from distance (open looks, still the kid can shoot), smartly getting half of Midd's 55 points in the paint, and pushing the ball up the court at Midd's usual fast pace.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

The difference often is perception.  Amherst chooses weak teams for the first three or four games.  Hixon likes to ease into the season - and there's plenty of good reason to do so.  They've played better teams in December, but usually November is stink city.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Southern Vermont shows tonight why there is no Division IV, down by 24 to Midd at the half. SV's run and gun doesn't work when you shoot poorly, don't rebound or protect the basket, have a unfortunate height disadvantage, etc. Probably does not help to have lost your captain and all-time assist leader for the season with a knee injury. Positive:Got to admire SV's giving opportunity to young men a long way from home.

Midd shows some bright elements, primarily St. Amour's 5 for 8 from distance (open looks, still the kid can shoot), smartly getting half of Midd's 55 points in the paint, and pushing the ball up the court at Midd's usual fast pace.

Also hurts when the opponent is shooting 70% from deep.  SVC didn't have a lot of room for error.  An injury like this is a big blow.

[Old Guy]

Scary. Midd playing liked we dreamed, up 55-32 against Southern VT,  8-2, recent victors over Bates in Lewiston (tourney team last year with 25 wins). The Panthers really pushing it, playing tough D, running the break beautifully. St. Amour hit five threes in a row (missed his first two and last one). Midd playing an eleven player rotation, everyone playing well.

Footnote: strange officiating - over-officiated in my view (I'm watching from home, still laid up) - lots of hand-checks, also, carries, illegal screens, lane violation (most actually going against the Panthers, 22 fouls called, 13 against Midd). At times, it's like watching a girls' game from the 1950s, ticky-tack. Hope it's not a factor in the second half.

I hope the Panthers have 40 minutes in them tonight. Here we go - second half.

[Old Guy]

They did, played fopr 40 minutes, maintained a 15-20 point lead in the second half. Good win (crucial!) going into NESCAC play this weekend in CT. I leave the quality analysis to Midd friends actually at the game.

Nice line for Matt St. Amour - 24 pts, 12 boards, 7 assists. Frosh Zack Baines started and had 11 points and 11 rebounds in 28 minutes. Jack Daly is playing a very versatile game: 10 assists, 15 pts, 5 assists, along with his usual tenacious defense. Jake Brown had the ball in his hands against pressure most of the second half - 8 points , no turnovers: terrific floor game. The Panthers play much of the game with three guards (Brown, St. Amour, Daly - with Dahleh and Jones coming off the bench, resulting in quickness and solid perimeter defense. Midd played a long stretch in the second half with three frosh on the floor: Baines, McCord (14 minutes, 4 pts, 4 rebs), Dahleh (11 minutes, 7 points). Soph Addisa Majors provides bulk and aggression when he's in there (5 pts, 4 boards in 5 minutes).

A good prep for the Camels and Cardinals.

[Bucket]

Southern Vermont shows tonight why there is no Division IV, down by 24 to Midd at the half. SV's run and gun doesn't work when you shoot poorly, don't rebound or protect the basket, have a unfortunate height disadvantage, etc. Probably does not help to have lost your captain and all-time assist leader for the season with a knee injury. Positive:Got to admire SV's giving opportunity to young men a long way from home.

Midd shows some bright elements, primarily St. Amour's 5 for 8 from distance (open looks, still the kid can shoot), smartly getting half of Midd's 55 points in the paint, and pushing the ball up the court at Midd's usual fast pace.

Yet this same Southern Vermont team beat Bates a couple of weeks ago. Don't mistake this team for the Castletons or the Johnsons of Vermont. Yes, they miss Antoine White to be sure, but they still won 5 in a row without him, including that win over the Bobcats on 12/21.

[with age came?]

Let the real season begin.....

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

However, I do think Amherst does deserve a little more credit for its scheduling in recent years.  Maybe it is just my personal opinion, but I think one of the most important parts of a D III schedule is playing top competition in your own region.  While I haven't run the numbers, I have to think that over the past 5 years Amherst has as many or more wins against regionally ranked opponents in the northeast than anyone else.  We certainly have to be up there.  Year in and year out we seem to finish the season having played a good cross section of the top teams in our region.  I think Coach Hixon does deserve a lot of credit for that.  Anyway, we will see what this year brings but I don't think anyone could fairly say that Amherst generally dodges the top northeastern teams. 

Well, the data is a little bit scewed. When there are 13 some odd teams regionally ranked in the Northeast based on the number of teams in the region to begin with... playing teams that end up being regionally ranked isn't as hard as it looks. The fact the NESCAC is usually good for four teams ranked, at least, plus you sprinkle in other conference leaders, the chances of playing a lot of regionally ranked teams is pretty easy. Take that same scheduling mentality to another region - almost any other region - and you wouldn't have the same number of regionally ranked opponents.

I am not sure skewed data should have much to do with this.  To reiterate, my observations about Amherst's schedule were expressly limited to the Northeast region.  I was not comparing Amherst to any teams outside of the Northeast.  Similarly, my point about Amherst was not simply that they have racked up a few wins against regionally ranked opponents over the years -- rather, my point was that Amherst, in my estimation, has, over the past 5 years, as many or about as many wins against northeast regionally ranked opponents as anyone else.  So even if there was a relatively low bar -- which I am happy to concede for the argument -- my point is that Amherst has been clearing by more than just about everyone else. 

Now, as I have freely admitted, I haven't run the numbers and could be wrong about where Amherst stacks up.  However, I think my claim was pretty much an apples to apples one.  Namely, relative to its regional peers, Amherst typically gets well above average results against regionally ranked opponents. 

If this claim is indeed true, then I think Amherst deserves credit for more than respectable scheduling (even as I must fairly acknowledge that we never have a true murderer's row because historically we clearly (1) schedule a fair amount of weak competition early in the season, and (2) do not typically play powerhouses from other regions.)

Well if you are just talking about the Northeast Region, you probably will be on to something. When I, and many others with a national scope, read "more than anyone else," it is hard to keep the rest of the country out of the equation. My point was simply from a national point of view.

[Vandy74]

Southern Vermont shows tonight why there is no Division IV, down by 24 to Midd at the half. SV's run and gun doesn't work when you shoot poorly, don't rebound or protect the basket, have a unfortunate height disadvantage, etc. Probably does not help to have lost your captain and all-time assist leader for the season with a knee injury. Positive:Got to admire SV's giving opportunity to young men a long way from home.

Midd shows some bright elements, primarily St. Amour's 5 for 8 from distance (open looks, still the kid can shoot), smartly getting half of Midd's 55 points in the paint, and pushing the ball up the court at Midd's usual fast pace.

Anyone who wants to believe that the absence of Antoine White is a devastating loss for SVC need only check the box scores of the games before he was injured to set themselves straight.  Those of us who watched the game know that the Panthers got off to a sluggish start trailing 12-7 in the early minutes.  They didn't take the lead until the 12:46 mark and lead only 17-15 at 11:30.  In those final eight and a half minutes of the first half they dominated to the tune of 38-17.  That prorates to a 179-80 score over 40 minutes of play for you numbers crunchers out there.  But you're right.  It was all St. Amour.

[Vandy74]

Southern Vermont shows tonight why there is no Division IV, down by 24 to Midd at the half. SV's run and gun doesn't work when you shoot poorly, don't rebound or protect the basket, have a unfortunate height disadvantage, etc. Probably does not help to have lost your captain and all-time assist leader for the season with a knee injury. Positive:Got to admire SV's giving opportunity to young men a long way from home.

Midd shows some bright elements, primarily St. Amour's 5 for 8 from distance (open looks, still the kid can shoot), smartly getting half of Midd's 55 points in the paint, and pushing the ball up the court at Midd's usual fast pace.

Also hurts when the opponent is shooting 70% from deep.  SVC didn't have a lot of room for error.  An injury like this is a big blow.

Middlebury shot 66.7% from trey land in the first half, most of it in the final eight and a half minutes.  They shot 33.3% in the second half.  SVC beat both Bates and a now 7-4 RPI team, who beat Middlebury btw, after the "big blow."  Not sure what your point is here.

[Vandy74]

They did, played fopr 40 minutes, maintained a 15-20 point lead in the second half. Good win (crucial!) going into NESCAC play this weekend in CT. I leave the quality analysis to Midd friends actually at the game.

Nice line for Matt St. Amour - 24 pts, 12 boards, 7 assists. Frosh Zack Baines started and had 11 points and 11 rebounds in 28 minutes. Jack Daly is playing a very versatile game: 10 assists, 15 pts, 5 assists, along with his usual tenacious defense. Jake Brown had the ball in his hands against pressure most of the second half - 8 points , no turnovers: terrific floor game. The Panthers play much of the game with three guards (Brown, St. Amour, Daly - with Dahleh and Jones coming off the bench, resulting in quickness and solid perimeter defense. Midd played a long stretch in the second half with three frosh on the floor: Baines, McCord (14 minutes, 4 pts, 4 rebs), Dahleh (11 minutes, 7 points). Soph Addisa Majors provides bulk and aggression when he's in there (5 pts, 4 boards in 5 minutes).

A good prep for the Camels and Cardinals.

Agreed Old Guy.  A solid team effort all around.  Everyone showed up to play tonight and it was fun to watch.  No letdown in the second half denying SVC the slightest chance to make a comeback run is something that doesn't show up in the box score but is as encouraging to Middlebury fans as any of the individual stats.  Even before viewing your exercise video Young Guy had told me to expect your long awaited return to Pepin sooner rather than later.  That's great news.  You've been sorely kneeded.

[Vandy74]

Southern Vermont shows tonight why there is no Division IV, down by 24 to Midd at the half. SV's run and gun doesn't work when you shoot poorly, don't rebound or protect the basket, have a unfortunate height disadvantage, etc. Probably does not help to have lost your captain and all-time assist leader for the season with a knee injury. Positive:Got to admire SV's giving opportunity to young men a long way from home.

Midd shows some bright elements, primarily St. Amour's 5 for 8 from distance (open looks, still the kid can shoot), smartly getting half of Midd's 55 points in the paint, and pushing the ball up the court at Midd's usual fast pace.

Yet this same Southern Vermont team beat Bates a couple of weeks ago. Don't mistake this team for the Castletons or the Johnsons of Vermont. Yes, they miss Antoine White to be sure, but they still won 5 in a row without him, including that win over the Bobcats on 12/21.

I share your respect for the SVC basketball program Bucket.  I do take some issue with putting Castleton in the same category as Johnson however.  Their '13-'14 team beat a WPI squad that went 22-5 that season.  Castleton lost by only 10 points to Middlebury here in Pepin and put on a similar performance against Williams.  This season Lyndon has beaten Wesleyan.  While it's true for the most part NESCAC teams shouldn't worry about losing to the VT state colleges a few are showing signs those days are over.  Apparently the Ephs don't think it's fun to play with the Mountaineers anymore.  They used to get along so well together.

[AmherstStudent05]

However, I do think Amherst does deserve a little more credit for its scheduling in recent years.  Maybe it is just my personal opinion, but I think one of the most important parts of a D III schedule is playing top competition in your own region.  While I haven't run the numbers, I have to think that over the past 5 years Amherst has as many or more wins against regionally ranked opponents in the northeast than anyone else.  We certainly have to be up there.  Year in and year out we seem to finish the season having played a good cross section of the top teams in our region.  I think Coach Hixon does deserve a lot of credit for that.  Anyway, we will see what this year brings but I don't think anyone could fairly say that Amherst generally dodges the top northeastern teams. 

Well, the data is a little bit scewed. When there are 13 some odd teams regionally ranked in the Northeast based on the number of teams in the region to begin with... playing teams that end up being regionally ranked isn't as hard as it looks. The fact the NESCAC is usually good for four teams ranked, at least, plus you sprinkle in other conference leaders, the chances of playing a lot of regionally ranked teams is pretty easy. Take that same scheduling mentality to another region - almost any other region - and you wouldn't have the same number of regionally ranked opponents.

I am not sure skewed data should have much to do with this.  To reiterate, my observations about Amherst's schedule were expressly limited to the Northeast region.  I was not comparing Amherst to any teams outside of the Northeast.  Similarly, my point about Amherst was not simply that they have racked up a few wins against regionally ranked opponents over the years -- rather, my point was that Amherst, in my estimation, has, over the past 5 years, as many or about as many wins against northeast regionally ranked opponents as anyone else.  So even if there was a relatively low bar -- which I am happy to concede for the argument -- my point is that Amherst has been clearing by more than just about everyone else. 

Now, as I have freely admitted, I haven't run the numbers and could be wrong about where Amherst stacks up.  However, I think my claim was pretty much an apples to apples one.  Namely, relative to its regional peers, Amherst typically gets well above average results against regionally ranked opponents. 

If this claim is indeed true, then I think Amherst deserves credit for more than respectable scheduling (even as I must fairly acknowledge that we never have a true murderer's row because historically we clearly (1) schedule a fair amount of weak competition early in the season, and (2) do not typically play powerhouses from other regions.)

Well if you are just talking about the Northeast Region, you probably will be on to something. When I, and many others with a national scope, read "more than anyone else," it is hard to keep the rest of the country out of the equation. My point was simply from a national point of view.

You may have read "more than anyone else" but I don't think that's something I ever wrote.  I think what I wrote was "more wins against regionally ranked opponents in the northeast than anyone else."

[nescac1]

Southern Vermont is a very solid team this year, and that is a really good win for Midd, no doubt about it.  The most encouraging sign for Midd is the big game from Baines, who needs to emerge in a major way for Midd to play well vs. NESCAC competition.  Midd is, much like last year, very unpredictable from game to game, I'm not sure why.  Their last three games featured two very strong wins, blowouts over Plattsburgh (who beat Trinity last night) and Southern Vermont, sandwiched around a strange loss to Endicott.  Also strange was the loss to RPI.  Right now it seems like Midd is playing very well at home (3-0, all by way of blowout) but struggling on the road and in neutral court games.  Unfortunately for the Panthers, the vast majority of their games are away from Peppin this year ... 8 home games, 4 neutral court games, and 12 away games.  A very odd schedule. 

Speaking of SVT, I don't think it's fair to imply that Williams is somehow "dodging" them just because they didn't play them this year.  While they may no longer schedule them in the very first game of the season (probably a smart move) I'm sure they will appear on the Williams schedule again in the near future.  Other than NESCAC teams, I don't think there is any team that Williams plays every single season, although they do typically play at least several of their near-neighbors like SVT, MCLA, RPI and Springfield most years. 

A bit of recruiting news from Williams.  According to this tweet Henry Feinberg is playing at D3 Williams "University" [sic] next year:

https://twitter.com/EthanRKassel/status/682002215058329600

Feinberg looks like a big, athletic wing who can shoot:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkNKx38zo_c

Williams continues to have a strong recruiting presence in California, and it looks like a very good recruiting season for the Ephs so far.